Dragline excavating apparatus



Nov. 14-, 1950 G. E. BRYANT 2,530,150

' DRAGLINE EXCAVATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Bldg. 5

Patented Nov. 14, 1950 DRAGLINE ,EXCAVATING APPARATUS George E. Bryant, Rydalmere, New South Wales, Australia, assignor to R.G. Letourneau, Inc., Stockton, Calif., a corporation of California Application December 18, 1946, Serial No. V

In Australia December 21, 1945 This invention relates. to means for removing sand and the like from irrigation channels particularly in areas wherein soil erosion due to wind effects occurs.

An object of the present invention is to provide means whereby channels of the above nature may be cleaned by mechanical means which are self contained and are easily and rapidly transported to places often miles apart.

It is believed that there are not any known types of mechanical equipment similar to that which is the subject of the present invention, for removing sand and the like from irrigation channels.

The present invention is particularly applicable to a chain plate tractor capable of being traversed parallel to the sides of the channel from which sand and the like are to be removed.

The cable system of the device is such that adjustments to the position of the apparatus or any single component of the apparatus can be rapidly and positively made, and at the same time the scoop is readily controlled in a rapid forward and reverse travel.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view illustrating the scoop and boom assembly.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the device in operation.

The invention as illustrated consists of a rigid main frame Ill fixed to a suitable tractor l I by trunnion spools l2 which are attached b means of bolts to the chassis frame of the tractor E I.

Two booms G3 are attached to the main frame H! by means of universal joints I4 the said scoop booms I3 extending one from each side of the said main frame It of the device in an outwardly and rearwardly direction of the tractor II and are supported and braced by vertical adjustment cables I5 and brace cables Hi.

The said brace cables l6 are also used to adjust the position of the said booms l3 in a hori zontal plane about the universal joints I4.

A pair of winches H is attached to the respective side members of the main frame Ill and each winch IT has a boom adjusting cable l5 referred to above for effecting vertical adjustment of the said boom E3. The free end of the said cabl s is passed over a swivel guide sheave I8 which is attached to the top side of the respective main 2 Claims. (01. 371'16) frame Ill, said cable If} thence passes to the end of the respective scoopbooinsIS :Where it is ahQ A front frame member I9 is attached to the front of the tractor by means of bolts, and. carries two winches 2B and two swivel cross over sheaves 2| which are used to controlthe respec tive boom bracecables I 6.

One-end of each of thesaidboom brace cables I6 is fixed to the respective winches 2!! and'the other end thereof is passed under a cross over double sheave-2| to the inside of a swivel guide sheave 22 which latter is attached to the end of the respective booms I3 and passes back through the outer side of the cross-over sheave 2I and thence back to the swivel guide sheave 22 to which the end of the said boom brace cable I6 is anchored.

The said boom brace cable l6 and the winch 20 enable the respective booms I3 to be adjusted rearwardly or forwardly of the tractor II in a horizontal plane, while another pair of cables 23 termed for convenience scoop cables, are used to control the scoop 24 when moved in a forward and backward motion across a channel 25, Figure 4.

The tractor II is provided with a known form of double cable drum rear winch unit 25 termed for convenience, the tractor winch, from which the scoop cable 23 is controlled; one of the said cables 23 being attached to each of the said winch drums of the tractor and being led in opposite directions to respective scoop guide swivel sheaves 2! which are attached to respective ends of the said scoop booms I3 said cables thence passing to respective sides of the scoop 24 where they are anchored.

Adjusting positions 28 are formed on the leading end of the scoop 24 to enable the cutting and workin angle of the said scoop 24 to be altered at will.

A boom spacer cable 29 is used to fix the scoop booms I3 at predetermined distances apart.

In operation (see Figures 3 and 4) one scoop boom I3 extends over the channel 25 to be cleaned while the other scoop boom I3 extends in the opposite direction. For clearing the sand from the said channel 25 the scoop 24 is drawn backwards and forward across the channel by operating the tractor Winch drums 26 first in one direction and then in the reverse direction whereby the scoop removes the sand to one bank for disposal.

When the device as described above is not in use, or when it is to be moved from place to place the scoop booms 13 are placed forwardly parallel to the tractor by releasing the boom spacer cable 29-and the scoop '24 from the scoop cable '23 and then inhauling each boom brace cable 16 into its respective winch 20 until the said scoop booms l3 lie parallel to the tractor. Finally each scoop boom I3 is lowered by respective vertical adjustment boom cables l5 from respective winches l1 until the respective booms l3 are resting on the front chassis frame l9. It will be appreciated that the invention may be used for many purposes where soil or material is to be removed.

What is claimed is:

1. An excavating apparatus comprising the combination with a tractor, of an upstanding frame fixed to the tractor, an outwardly projecting boom on each side of the frame, a uni- 4 joint to selectively different positions; said last named means comprising a winch on each side of the frame, a pulley on the frame above each winch, a cable extending from each such last named winch about the pulley above and thence to and being anchored on the outer end of the corresponding boom, another frame on the tractor spaced lengthwise thereof from the first named frame, a pair of winches mounted on said last named frame, a pulley on said last named frame laterally out from each of said last named winches, and a cable secured to each of said last named winches and reeved through one of the last named pulleys and extending thence to a connection with one of the booms at its outer end.

versal connection between the inner end of each means connected with the outer end of each 3 boom and operative to support such boom and to effect adjustment thereof about the universal 2. A structure as in claim 1 in which the second named frame on the tractor extends lat- V erally beyond each side of the first named frame whereby the booms. may be lowered to rest on said extensions.

GEORGE E. BRYANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 825,200 Dunlop July 3, 1906 1,219,371 A Butterfield Mar. 13, 1917 1,464,454 Thompson Aug. 7, 1923 1,636,136 Kernes July 19, 1927 

